ISLAMABAD (SW) – A number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, expressing concern about the situation of immigrants in this country, say that they are afraid of being arrested by the Pakistani police due to the expiration of their visa.
They want the government of Pakistan to extend the deadline for the return of Afghan immigrants.
Malik Mujahid Shinwari and Malik Awal Khan Miakhil, two representatives of Afghan immigrants in Pakistan, told Salam Watandar that they have been living in Pakistan for many years and have invested in it to continue their lives there. But now they are worried that their money will remain in that country after the deadline for the return of Afghan immigrants.
Malik Mujahid Shinwari says: “Afghan immigrants have invested in Pakistan and built houses, and they cannot collect their investment back in Pakistan during this time. The deadline for their return should be extended.”
Malik Awal Khan Miakhil also says: “We want from Pakistan, the Islamic Emirate and immigration institutions that we are on the threshold of winter and Afghan immigrants do not have a home in Afghanistan and are facing problems, they should be given an extended deadline.”
Meanwhile, a number of Afghan immigrants who have returned to the country in the past few days are asking the caretaker government to provide them with permanent accommodation.
Wazir Ahmad Safi, an Afghan immigrant who returned from Pakistan, says: “Immigrants who come to Afghanistan receive first aid and temporary shelter, but we need to be provided with permanent shelter and a place to work.”
Zahidullah, another Afghan immigrant who returned from Pakistan, also says: “We have been helped by the government with a food packages and temporary shelter. We wish to we are helped more because we are in great need.”
However, officials in the Ministry of Refugees and Returnees Affairs say that they are working hard to address the problems of Afghan immigrants in neighboring countries.
Abdul Rahman Rashid, deputy minister, says that over the past two weeks, more than 50,000 Afghan immigrants have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries.
He adds: “A total of 50,776 people have returned from neighboring countries in this month. The number of immigrants who were forcibly deported from Iran is 23, 632 and 14,271 returned voluntarily from Iran, and 186 were forcibly deported from Pakistan and 12,687 voluntarily returned. They have returned to their own country.”
At the same time as the arrest of a number of Afghan immigrants by the Pakistani police, the government of this country has given the immigrants living in Pakistan until November 1 to leave Pakistan. Otherwise, they will be sentenced to three years in prison.
Sarfraz Bugti, Minister of Interior Affairs of Pakistan, said in his press conference on Friday that after the deadline set for illegal immigrants, the government will not make any compromises in deporting them.
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